Memphis, TN -A local man has been found guilty by a jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm after he committed an armed robbery. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the conviction today.
According to information presented in court, on Sept. 22, 2016, Alford Robinson robbed a victim at gunpoint and escaped in a blue Dodge Charger. The victim reported the robbery to police, who then put out a broadcast for the vehicle. Two MPD officers who heard the broadcast saw and stopped the car. The defendant immediately jumped out of the vehicle, over a 6-foot privacy fence and escaped from law enforcement. While searching the vehicle, law enforcement located two loaded Smith & Wesson.40 caliber pistols on the floorboards.
On Feb. 23, 2017, Robinson was indicted in federal court for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and was detained by a magistrate judge pending trial. He attempted to escape from federal prison 25 days prior to his original trial date. On March 13, 2018, Robinson was indicted in federal court and charged with attempted escape.
On June 26, 2018, Robinson pleaded guilty to the attempted escape and asked for a trial on the firearm charges. On Feb. 21, 2019, after approximately 30 minutes of deliberation, a federal jury found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He will now be classified as an armed career criminal and will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Under our PSN initiative, we focus on removing firearms from the hands of prohibited persons, and removing dangerous felons from our streets. Clearly, this armed career criminal had no hesitation in committing a violent crime with a firearm, and he will now be removed from our community for at least 15 years. We are FED UP. Gun Crime is Max Time."
Sentencing is set for May 24, 2019, before U.S. Senior District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Memphis Police Department Felony Response Unit, and the PSN Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. William Crow and Stephen Hall are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
